Spring pocket filling machine



Dec. 22, 1953 w. K M INERNEY ET AL SPk'iINQ POCKET FILLING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 12, 1949 \NVENTORS WMIAM (.Mfluemaev JAMES M. MSNERNEY ATTORNEYS 22, 1953 w. K. MCINERNEY ET AL 2,663,475

SPRING POCKET FILLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 1.2, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 \NvENToRs Wmugm KM MIRNEY Jmss M. M hsnnev Dec. 22, 1953 w. K. MCINERNEY ET AL 2,663,475

SPRING POCKET FILLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 12, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 I ma-.5.

\NvENToRs Wmmm K. MHNERNEX J MES MMWERNEY av W MWW ATTORNEYS Dec. 22, 1953 w, K, MOINERNEY ET AL 2,663,475

SPRING POCKET FILLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 12, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 NVENTORS F1 (5'. 4. MELW JAMES M. Mhenusv Awoansvs Dec. 22, 1953 Filed Sept. 12, 1949 W. K. M INERNEY ET AL SPRING POCKET FILLING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 EL M Wan-mu K. Mluemm k JAmss M luennsv Y W L M Aw-roausvs Dec. 22, 1953 W. K MOINERNEY ET AL 2,663,475

SPRING POCKET FILLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 12, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 NVENTORS wlLUAM K.M\NERNEY JAMES M. MCNERNEY BY ha ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 22, 1953 UNITED STATE SPRING POCKET FILLING MACHINE William K. McInerney and James M. Mclnerney,

Grand Rapids, Mich.

Application September 12, 1949,'Serial No. 115,256

Claims.

This invention relates to a novel and rapid production machine for filling fabric pockets with coiled cushion springs. There has been previs ously filed in the Patent Office an application by J. L. McInerney, Serial No. 791,712, filing date of which is December 15, 1947, now Patent No. 2,647,671, dated August 4, 1953, for a spring loading machine. The present invention, using some of the structural features of such earlier filed machine, is concerned with novel structure and arrangements for greatly increasing production so that the fabric pockets may be filled, each with a coiled cushion spring, in succession one after the other, the pockets being conveyed or moved in succession to the filling or loading station, and a plurality of pockets simultaneously filled with the springs, the present machine also being adapted to receive the springs as they are deliv-- ered from a spring selecting and feeding machine, upon which we have recently filed application for patent, Serial No. 103,152 on July 5, 1949, now Patent No. 2,578,438, dated December 11, 1951.

It is an object and purpose of the present invention to provide a practical and operative machine for inserting in fabric pockets, a coiled spring in each pocket, very rapidly and expeditiously so that the machine operates substantially automatically as long as springs are supplied to it, and as long as the fabric pockets to receive the springs are attached to their conveyor for movement to the filling or loading station in a continuous succession of periodic movements, in each of which movements a plurality of the fabric pockets are moved to the filling station, all of them being supplied and filled each with a single spring in each cycle of operation of the machine. Many other objects and purposes, included in which is the structure for maintaining the springs in their pockets in compressed condition until they can be taken from the machine, for subsequent operations in which the springs are released to expand and turn to lie lengthwise of the pockets and the pockets closed at their open ends in which the springs are inserted, will be apparent and understood from the following description, and from drawings of an embodiment of the invention, which hasbeen built arid is in use, in

which drawings Fig. 1 is a plan View of the novel machine of our invention,

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine,

Fig. 3 is an end elevation looking at the machine from the right in Fig. 1 and from the left 7 in Fig. 2,

'port and reinforce the frame.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section substantially on the plane of line 44 of Fig. 1, showing the coiled springs at the stage of operation of the machine wherein such springs are nearly compressed to their final stage of compression,

Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 4, after the machine has been operated to completely com-- press the springs and are plunger ejected and moved into the pockets to receive them,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section substantially on the plane of line 83 of Fig. 7 is a fragmentary rear elevationof the lower portion of the machine illustrating the mechanism used for operating the spring compressing means and the spring ejecting and pocket fillng means,

Fig. 8 is a. plan view and Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section through a periodic actuating mechanism for several conveyors which are driven in unison at intervals for moving the pockets and the spring receiving holders into position for re ceiving springs and moving them in compressed condition to the fabric pockets which receive spaced from which is a lower elongated bar 2, supported above the floor by vertical posts 3. At

the ends of the machine are cross bars at right angles to the front wall I and connected therewith, which are connected to the outer ends of two bars 5 in alignment which (Fig. I) extend toward each other, parallel to the bar 1, and join with spaced bars 6 located at right angles and extending rearwardly fromthe inner ends of the bars 5. Bars 6 are connected at their rear ends by bar 7 parallel to the bars 1 and 5 but back a distance therefrom. Other horizontal bars sup- There are also other posts 3 at the junctures of the bars 5 and t and at the junctures of the bars 6 and l. The horizontal bars 8 are a short distance above the floor and are connected with supporting posts 3,

serving as supports, as hereafter described, for

' portions of the elements of the machine.

A horizontal table 9 extending the full length of the machine is located at the front of the machine above the upper ends of the front posts 3 as shown. At the rear edge of the table 9 an elongated guide lil is secured, and back of it a second or narrower table or board I I secured perslidably mounted for vertical movements between the sides having the spaced bars 45, having an upper horizontal cross bar 46, spaced vertical sides 41, on which rollers are mounted to extend between the bars 45, and a lower cross bar 48. Vertical rods 49 extend downwardly from the upper cross member 46, each rod being secured to the cross member and equipped with a presser head 55) at its lower end of a size and shape to be received within a spring receiving member 38. There are three of these rods and three of the spring pressers in the machine as used.

During the movements of the chain the plungers are elevated so that the heads e are above the upper ends of the spring receiving members 38 (Fig. 2). At the rest or dull periods between successive movements of the chain, the frame carrying the spring pressers is moved downwardly, as hereafter described, and each of the coiled compression springs 43 is compressed in the direction of its axial length, the springs being compressed so that their upper ends are below the upper side of the opening 48 and are also below the lower edge of the plate 44 which is spaced a distance above the table member at i i. In Fig. 4 the compression of the spring has not reached its extreme of compression, the heads 59 at their lowermost limits reaching substantially the position shown in Fig. 5.

On the lower cross bar 4d of the vertical movable frame, rods 5!, three in number are perma- 'nently secured and extend downwardly therefrom,

at the lower end of each of which a cam plate is permanently secured, the lower outer corner -portion of which is cut away to provide an inclined edge or side. Three arms 5:3 are permanently connected at their forward ends to a rock shaft 54 mounted on its ends between the spaced lower end portions 451% of the fixed carrying guiding frame on which the spring presser frame is mounted. Said arms extend rearwardly and carry rollers at their free ends which, when the rods 5| and plates 52 are in an upper position, are in the path of movement of th inclined lower edge of the plates 52. Other arms 55 are permanently secured to the rock shaft 54, extending generally downward therefrom, and. at their lower ends are connected to a horizontal rod 55, the ends of which are disposed in generally horizontal slots 5i in the parts a. Also on the rods 56 flat sheet metal members 58 are pivotally mounted, each at its front end having an upturned lip 58a. The fabric bags 59 which are to receive the springs 43 have lower sides, the edges of which extend farther back than the edges of their upper sides. Springs 60 surround the rod 56 and have end portions hearing against the shaft 54 and the upper sides of the members 53 tend to depress the front lip portions 58a of themembers 58 so that such members bear against the upper side of the lower sides of the fabric bags 59 at a point back of the rear edges of the upper sides thereof (Fig. 4). When the spring compressors are moved downwardly, the inclined lower edge portions of the plates 52 ride against the rollers and rock the rock shaft 54 counterclockwise (Figs. 4 and 5), moving the rod 55 and the members. 58 thereon outwardly in a forward direction to bring the lips 53c and adjacent portions of plates 58 under the upper sides of the fabric pockets and the lowermost end portions of the plates 52 press against members 58 back of their pivotal mounting, whereupon the upper T sides of the fabric bags 59 are lifted above the 5 lower sides thus opening the pockets, three in each bag 59, for reception of the compressed springs 43 therein.

Loading the springs is by means of spring pushing or loading members, each including a rod El with a head 62 at its front end. Such rodsare adapted to pass through the openings 46 and the space between the lower edge of the plate 44 .and the table II, the heads 82 engaging thecompressed springs 43 and moving them over the table I l and underneath the members 58, the compressed springs being forced into the open ends of the fabric pockets.

In practice and as the disclosure shows, the pockets are supplied each with a spring 43 in series of three, thus there are three of the rods Bl each with its head 52 thereon. The number of pockets in a bag 59 and of compresser and loading rods and heads may be varied. i

The mechanism for operating the spring compressing plungers and the spring loading rods and heads is best shown in Figs. 1, 3 and '7. Beveled gearing 63 on the shaft 2: and on a shaft 64 (Fig. 1) at right angles to it connect the two shafts for driving the shaft 64, which is located toward the lower portion of the machine-and at the forward portion of the-rear extension to the machine frame. Thre cams areiixed to the shaft 64. Two of such cams at 65 are of identical form and construction and may be. designated as side cams spaced apart from each other. Between them is a third cam 58. The'cams 55 each actuates a bar El, rollers on said bars between the ends thereof entering the grooves of the'cams, shown in Fig. 3. At their upper forward ends the bars 67 are pivotally connected to generally vertical rods 58 which at their upper ends are connected with the sides 4'! of the spring compressor frame. At their opposite ends bars 5'! are fixed to a rock shaft It, mounted at its ends in bearings secured to the lower horizontal frame members 8 of the machine frame. Center cam 56 operates arm 69 mounted on the shaft Ml.

Bars H are also mounted on'the rock shaft (0 at their lower ends, extending upwardly to 'a carrying and guiding frame for the spring loading rods 6|. The bars ii are fixed to the rock shaft 10, having sleeves l2 at their lower ends (Fig. 7) through which the shaft passes. The arm 69 also has a like sleeve 72 through which shaft H1 passes also fixed to the shaftso that the center cam 65 operating the arm 69 rocks the shaft 16 and the rock shaft #9 swings the arms H back and forth. The sleeves T3 at the ends of thebars 6i are loose upon the shaft 70. Links 74 connect the upper ends of .bars H with a carriage of rectangular form at 75 (Fig. l), which is mounted on rollers extending from the sides of the carriage to pass between horizontal carrying and guide bars 55 spaced from each other and mounted on the frame of the machine andwhich are stationary with respect to such frame. The forward ends of the bar it are connected bya cross bar ll through which the rods 6! pass (Fig. 5). Such rods 5| at their rear ends are permanently secured to the front bar of the frame 75. The swinging movement of the bars ii back. and forth reciprocates the frame 15 so as to move the springloading rods Si in aforward direction to load the fabric pockets and return the frame and connected rods 6! tothe rear'after such loading is accomplished.

It will be noted from the formof the grooves in the cams 65 and 66, that for approximately one-half of the rotation of the shaft 64. there::is

half of said movement.

the main, is below the table 9.

7 no movement of the rock shaft 7!] and of the bars 51 and 11. Thus the spring loading bars '51 and the frame to which the bars are connected are at rest during substantially one-half of such rotation of shafted and a complete reciprocation of the rods'fil takes place during the other Likewise, the vertical movable carriage to which the spring compressing rams are attached is likewise at rest during substantially one-half of each rotation of the shaft 6! and a downward followed by the upward movement of the spring compressing .plungers is completed during the remaining one-half of such rotation. The timing of the movements is such that when the springs are completely compressed, the forward movement of the frame I5 and rods 6| occurs and the springs are forced into the fabric pockets in the bags 59, and the return of the spring compressing plungers to upper position and of the spring loading rods 6| and their heads 62 to their rear position occurring nearly simultaneously. Also, such compressing of the springs and their loading into the pockets takes place while the chain and the spring receiving members 38 attached thereto are at rest.

A still additional chain wheel 58 is mounted on the shaft l5 at the end of the machine nearest the loading station which, through a chain 19 and a suitable Wheel drives a horizontal shaft to which a roller 8| is affixed. The roller 8|, in

Spaced horizontally from it is a second roller in the same plane. Around the rollers an endless belt 82 passes, the upper run of which rides over the upper side of the table 9 and has its upper side flush with the upper side of the table. Vertical supports 83 and 84 connected with the main frame (Fig. 2) support the shaft on which the rollers 8| are mounted and also extend upwardly above the tablet. A second endless belt 36 over and spaced from the lower belt 82 passes around rollers 85 carried by horizontal shafts 31 between the upper ends of the vertical supports 83 and 84. A short vertical shaft 88 (Fig. 6) is between the forward ends of the shafts 80 and 81 and through the beveled gearing 89 connects the shafts together, so that the upper run of the lower belt and the lower run of the upper belt move in the same direction toward the adjacent end of the machine. The gearing connections between shafts 80, 8B and 81 is covered by a sheet metal housing 90 (Fig. 6).

When the pockets of the bags 59 receive the "compressed springs 43 therein, such pockets have been moved to a position between the adjacent horizontal runs of the belts B2 and 86 Each fabric bag 59 is divided into three side by side pockets each of which simultaneously receives a compressed spring 43 therein at the loading stage. Where the springs are-forced into the three pockets they are held against extension by the pressure of the upper belt 86 stopping expansion in a vertical direction and by the lower belt 82 and the table 9 below it which prevents extension in a downward direction. Such extension of the springs cannot take place until the spring loaded fabric pockets have passed beyond the belt. The

belts 82 and 86 are actuated in periodic step by step movements with intervals of rest between such movements and are stationary when the loading of the springs takes place. Whenthey leave the belts they go to other mechanisms, no

' partof the: present invention and not shown herein, for closing the open ends or the pockets and with the springs extendingand turned at 3 right angles to the position which they sanity -in 5, so as to lie lengthwise of the pockets in which they 'are receive'di With a machine constructed as described, a very rapid quantity pro'ducti'o'n is attained in the matter of filling the pockets with the desired springs'which springs may be "of varying tens-ion as disclosed in our prior application above referred to, the selection of which for delivery "to the machine of the present invention'is disclosed in said. recently filed application. With the d'- livery of each plurality or one to each '"of the spring receiving members 38, with such fn'eihbers and the chain to which they are attached at rest, there follows a succeeding step of movement of the chain 35 and the attached spring receiving members toward the loading stage. The next succeeding three spring receiving members 38 receives the next three springs when the chain conveyor 3'5 again stops in movement. The compression of the springs and the loading thereof as previously described is properly timed with the movement of the several conveyor chains, so that at the loading stage when the loading takes place the mechanism is at rest, except for the downward movement of the spring compressing rams followed by their return to upper position and the forward movement of the s ring loading rods 5] and heads 62 followed by their return to their initial rear position, whieh'oeeurs before the next succeeding movement of the conveyor chain 35 and attached spring receiving members 38 takes place. The belts 82 and 86 are likewise driven in unison with the conveying chain 35. 'Very rapid loading of the springs is attained, greatly lessening hand laborpreviously used in many of the operations between the se looting of the springs which are to be used, and a completion of the final loading of the springs into their fabric reciving pockets.

The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive or all forms of structure coming within their scope.

Vie claim:

1 In a structure as described, a horizontal table,- an endless horizontal conveyor having an upper run passing over said table, said conveyor at spaced distances in thelengththeieof having outwardly projecting pin 51. second horizontal conveyor, aplurahty or elongated spring receiving members hingedly connected to said second conveyor at equally spaced distances in the length thereof, saisspnn receiving members depending vertically from the lower run or their conveyor and occupyin generally horizontal pQSltlOl'lS in changing from the lower to the upper runs of the conveyor iii the movements thereof, camrning guide means over which the spring receiving members of the upper nm of ne conveyor ride for changing'said spring iecelvlllg members from horizontal through inciined' positions to vertical positions with the progress of the upper run of the conveyor, said spring receiving meinbers' being a-da'pt'ed to receive individual coiled ecrnpression springs therein while at inclined position, said spring receiving members being open at their outer ends, vertically movable spring compressing member's mounted between the ends of the said second conveyor and movable to a position above the upper ends of spring receiving r'n'einbers, means for driving both of said conveyors sifiiiiltaneously in step by step periodic movements with rest intervals between movements, means for driving the spring compressers downwardly to compress the springs followed by an upward movement of said spring compressers, horizontally located spring loading members movably mounted for reciprocation in a horizontal plane, said spring receiving members adjacent their lower ends having openings for the passage of said spring loading members, and means for moving said spring loading members horizontally to force the compressed springs from the spring receiving members into the open ends of said bag pockets, followed by a return backward movement of said spring loading members to initial position while said conveyors are at rest between movements thereof.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1, and endless belts horizontally located one over the other with the upper and lower runs of said belts spaced from each other and between which bags having springs receiving pockets therein are moved in succession with succeeding movements of said conveyors, and between which said bags are located upon loading compressed springs thereinto, said belts holding the springs compressed between their adjacent upper and lower horizontal runs, and means for driving said belts for movement of the adjacent upper and lower runs thereof in the same direction as the upper runs of said conveyors, in equal amounts and simultaneously therewith.

3. In the machine of the class described, an endless conveyor chain, a plurality of plates secured to said chain at equally spaced distances in the length thereof, a spring receiving member hingedly comiected to each plate whereby the members may be swung from horizontal to vertical positions and vice versa said spring receiving members being of channel form in cross section and closed at one end, means for moving the chains in periodic step by step movements for predetermined distances in the length thereof with intervals of time between movements durin which the chain is at rest, means for swinging said spring receiving members from a downwardly depending position at the lower run of the chain to an upwardly extending vertical position in the upper run of the chain with the open ends of the spring receiving members at the upper ends thereof, an elongated vertical member along which the open sides of said spring receiving member at the upper run of the chain move at and prior to coming to said loading station, means for compressing a predetermined number of said springs in said sprin receiving members at said loading station while the chain is at rest, means for horizontally moving the compressed springs at the loading station into the open ends of fabric pockets adapted to receive them, and means for operating said spring moving means while the chain and the spring receiving members are at rest and immediately after the springs at the loading station have been compressed.

4. A structure as defined in claim 3, and a horizontal table over which said compressed springs are moved, a conveyor at a longitudinal edge of the table, fabric bag attaching means carried by the table for releasably securing bags, open at one end to said conveyor with the open ends presented to receive the compressed springs, said bags having longitudinal pockets extending from the open ends of the bags to the other ends thereof, and means to drive said conveyor simultaneously and in equal amounts with said endless chain.

5. In a machine as described a horizontal ii) table, a conveyor movable lengthwise of the table, pins extending upwardly from the conveyor for attachment of bags having spring receiving pockets open at one end, said bags being movable over the table on movement of the conveyor means for moving said conveyor a predetermined distance in the direction of its length at spaced intervals of time between movements, a'loading station between the ends of said conveyor, means i for compressing coiled cushion springs in the direction of their length at the loading station, means for moving and loading the compressed springs into the pockets at their open ends combined with means for operating said spring compressing and spring loading means during the times between the movements of conveyor, and horizontal convey-- in means at the loading station to which the bags in succession are brought with the movements of the conveyor, movable pressure means located above saidconveying means for holding the springs compressed in the bags after loading therein, and means for moving said conveying means and pressure means simultaneously with said conveyor.

6. In a machine of the class described, a support having a horizontal table, an endless conveyor having an upper run located above the table, con-..

nectors on said conveyor in the length thereof and extending outwardly therefrom to which bags having an open end and having spring receiving pockets to receive springs may be detachably connected to move with said conveyor over the table, means for periodically driving said conveyor with intervals of rest between movements thereof, each movement being for a predetermined distance, means for loading the pockets in said bags with compressed coiled cushion springs at the open ends thereof at a predetermined position in the length on the table and during periods when the conveyor is at rest between movements thereof, and a second hori zontal conveyor, spring receiving members secured to said conveyor and movable therewith and connected therewith at equally spaced distances in the length thereof, each of said spring receiving members being adapted to receive a coiled cushion spring therein to be carried thereby, spring compressing means at a predetermined position in the length of the second conveyor for compressing the springs in said receiving members in the direction of their axial length, means for mounting said spring compressing means for vertical reciprocating movements to compress the springs on the downward movement thereof, means for driving said spring compressers dur ing the times that said second conveyor is at rest between movements thereof, and means mounted for horizontal reciprocation located at the back of the compressed springs and movable in a forward direction to engage the compressed springs and move them into the pockets of said bags, combined with means for reciprocating said spring moving means timed to occur while the conveyors are at rest and with the springs compressed.

A machine of the class described comprising, a loading station, means for carrying open-ended formed bags to and beyond said loading station. means at said loading station for inserting a coiled compression spring compressed in the direction of its axis into a bag with said axis tran verse to the sides of the bag, pressure means located closely adjacent said loading station and extending away therefrom in the direction of movement, at. the baaen a-g-ine opposite sidesioia theibag opposite the; com-pressed, spring; therein;

acting, to. hold said spring compressed, inthe has:v

beyond; the loadingstationi for further. operation onithezbag and a second: oonveyon syn? chronously with: saicl. bag connex on to; said: loading open: ended bags to; said loading station, a

spring conveyorv moving to; said loading station,

a. plura i y of individual spring receivers on said-- spring conveyor each movable, suoeessively to saiiitzading. station, means for compressing a spring within. areceiver means for, inserting said.

compressed spring; into a bag through. its. open end;- at. said loading: station, eaohv of said spring, reoeivers, having; an. open side; through which springs are inserted into the receiversiandiaplater at said. loading: station adjacent to which said open side oftae receiver isamoved, saict plate acting;

to closesaid open side.

12 9. Theelement oi. claim 8 combinede with;

means located, ahead, or said. loading, statiomein:

the; direction. of movement, of theioonveyorl acting; to. move, said: spring receivers interoblique" poshtions: with their open sides inclined. upward, and:

means; for moving: said receivers into position with their open sides; vertical at said. loading; station.

10. The elements: of claim 8 in which: each 042 said: receivers is channeleshaped having; anopeli side, an open upper end} and a closed, lower, end.

WILLIAM K. MQINERNEX. JAMES, M. References Cited the. me of this; pa en UNITED earrnmzsi- Number Name Date" 1,759,050 Gail May 20; 1 930 1",8'61 ,429 Schneider et al l May-3L 11932: 1,935,269 Jones Nov, 14; 15932; 2,093,531 Werner Sept. 21:; $9357 254L083 Rotti'er May 4; 15148?- 2578338' McInerneyet al Dec. 1 11, 2,647,671- MoIne-rney Aug; 4:,

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Qountm- Bate 3'77;,,7&4; Germany: Hanan... J line; 2e, ieze 

